The job description
About the Role
This is a foundational senior engineering hire at a small, ambitious robotics startup in Munich building a fully flexible, intelligent robotic work cell for the hardest manual tasks in industry — surface finishing, welding, and coating. You will own the core robotics software stack end-to-end, from motion planning and control to perception integration and real-world deployment in industrial environments.
This is a high-ownership, high-impact role for someone who thrives on real hardware, moves fast, and wants to shape both product and engineering culture from an early stage. Equity participation is a meaningful part of the package.
What You'll Do
- Own the core robotics software stack of the work cell architecture
- Develop and optimize motion planning, trajectory generation, and control algorithms
- Integrate perception systems — cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR — into real-time control loops
- Design, implement, and validate industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors
- Lead on-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells in industrial environments
- Drive architecture decisions and establish engineering best practices across the team
What We're Looking For
Must-haves (dealbreakers):
- 5+ years of hands-on robotics experience in industrial automation, including direct work with industrial robotic arms
- Proficiency in C++ and Python for robotics software development
- Production experience with ROS 2 for robot software development and integration
- Ability and willingness to work fully on-site in Munich, Germany (relocation required if not already local; no visa sponsorship available)
Required skills & experience:
- Hands-on experience with industrial robot arms (e.g., KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Universal Robots) in real production environments
- Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and/or CATIA for mechanical understanding and integration
- Experience with industrial communication protocols: EtherCAT and OPC-UA
- Integration of perception systems (cameras, force/torque sensors, LiDAR) into real-time control loops
- Design and validation of industrial safety concepts and fail-safe behaviors
- On-site testing, calibration, and commissioning of robotic work cells
- Domain experience in surface finishing, welding, or coating within manufacturing environments
Nice to have:
- German language skills (not required — English is fully sufficient)
- Demonstrated ability to take independent ownership and collaborate cross-functionally in a startup environment
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: €75,000 – €110,000 per year (depending on experience)
- Equity participation: meaningful equity stake as an early team member
- High-ownership role with direct influence on product and engineering direction
Location
- Munich, Germany — fully on-site
- Relocation to Munich is required
- No remote or hybrid option available for this role
- No visa sponsorship — candidates must have the right to work in Germany
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